Green Glue noise-proofing compound is a versatile substance. Use the tacky stuff on walls, on ceilings, and on floors when a noisy neighbour selfishly turns up the volume on his stereo system. The sound dampens immediately as the waves propagate through the viscoelastic glue. What about acoustical foams and panels? Don’t they deliver the same essential features? The answer to that questions isn’t anywhere near as straightforward as it appears.

The Solid VS. Viscoelastic Perks

While it’s true that Green Glue does take days to cure, the substance eventually becomes a highly effective noise attenuation mechanism when that period is reached. At this point, the gummy compound develops three-dimensional noise blocking capabilities. Acoustical foams and panels also work valiantly as noise cancelling assets, but they’re not specifically designed to work in all three dimensions. Granted, walls easily receive mounted panels while ceilings accept foam sheets, but what about the floor? There are felt underlays and thin laminates that absorb foot traffic, but few of these ground-based solutions are effective noise blockers. If that noisy neighbour is occupying the apartment below, then the floor will just relay the noise. Green Glue blocks discordant sounds from penetrating walls, ceilings, and floors.

Weighing The Low-Frequency Issue

Thin acoustic panels, even those with foam cores, don’t always stop low-frequency sounds. Back with the inconsiderate neighbour, it seems he just purchased a subwoofer for his entertainment system. This is the type of sound that vibrates walls. Formerly, only decoupling techniques stood a chance of preventing that bass rumble from propagating, with the material discontinuity physically isolating the vibrations. Now, however, Green Glue works well across a wide frequency range, including the lowest frequency area, all the way down to 100Hz. The gummy substance dissipates low, mid, and high-frequency sound as tiny amounts of heat. In the meantime, how are the panels and foams coping with the raspy low-frequency noise? Well, high-quality products do well, but there’s often a need to increase the width of the foam until the closed cells debilitate the acoustic energy.

Green Glue is an all over noise cancelling solution. Sure, a little more installation know-how is required and there’s the need for two drywall sheets, but that initial effort yields high rewards. As for acoustical foams and panels, the top-tier products are effective. However, expert placement skill is required to get the best out of this wall-mounted system. Lastly, Green Glue compound is a fire-tested product. Do make sure a similarly effective foam features that very important safety-oriented property.